Awards and honours | Australian Medical Association

Awards and honours 

The AMA is committed to recognising and honouring those who exemplify medicine's highest values. Each year we present awards to recognise outstanding achievement by those working to better the health of Australians. 

The following awards are presented to members at our annual National Conference:

Gold Medal

The Gold Medal is the highest honour the AMA can bestow.  It is awarded to, and bestowed on, members of the profession who have rendered outstanding services to the Association, to the practice of medicine, or to the community. 

Gold Medal Recipients

2024 - Professor Caroline De Costa
2023 - Dr John Gorman
2022 - Professor Emily Banks
2021 – Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley
2019 – Dr Richard Harris
2018 – Emeritus Professor John Murtagh
2017 – Dr William Glasson AO
2015 – Dr Steve Hambleton
2014 – Dr Mukesh Haikerwal AO
2009 – Professor Ian Frazer
2008 – Professor Fiona Stanley
2007 – Dr George Santoro
2006 – Professor Barry Marshall
2006 – Professor Robin Warren
2004 – Dr Michael Rice
1998 – Sir Gustav Nossal
1995 – Dr Brendan Nelson
1994 – Dr Fredrick Phillips
1993 – Dr Bruce Shepherd
1992 – Dr Kevin Fagan
1992 – Dr Trevor Pickering
1987 – Dr George Repin
1986 – Dr Harold Thompson
1983 – Dr Lionel Wilson
1977 – Dr Ronald Winton
1976 – Sir Keith Jones
1974 – Sir Geoffrey Newman-Morris
1971 – Dr Roderick MacDonald
1968 – Dr Clarence Rieger
1966 – Sir Angus Murray
1964 – Sir Cecil Colville

President's Award

The President’s Award is given to a person who, in the opinion of the President, has made an outstanding contribution towards furthering the objectives of the AMA. 

President's Award Recipients

2024 - Associate Professor Suzi Nou
2023 - Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis
2022 - Dr Chris Moy, A/Professor Rosanna Capolingua and Professor Kerryn Phelps
2021 – Professor Tony Lawler, Professor Brendan Murphy, Professor Paul Kelly, Dr Andrew Robertson, Professor Brett Sutton, Dr Hugh Heggie, Dr Jeannette Young, Dr Kerry Chant, Dr Kerryn Coleman and Professor Nicola Spurrier
2020 - Dr Antonio Di Dio
2019 - Dr Geoff Toogood
2018 - Dr David Rivett
2017 - Professor Bernard Pearn-Rowe
2016 - Dr Paul Bauert and Dr Graeme Killer AO
2015 - Dr Catherin Hamlin AC
2014 - Dr Bernard Quin
2013 - Dr Brian Morton AM and Dr Peter Ford
2011 - Ms Perry Sperlind
2010 - Professor Caroline de Costa
2009 - Dr Mukesh Haikerwal and Dr Dana Wainwright
2008 - Dr Martin Van der Weyden, Mr Kerry Gallagher and Mr Paul Boyatzis
2007 - Dr Don Sheldon
2006 - Mr John Perrin
2005 - AMA Directors
2004 - The Honourable Douglas Lowe AM
2003 - Members of the AMA Medical professional Indemnity Taskforce
2002 - Dr Paul Bauert
2000 - Mr Roger Kilham
1999 - Dr Peter Arnold
1998 - The Honourable Graham Kierath
1997 - The Right Honourable John Howard (Prime Minister)
1996 - Ms Tricia Caswell

Roll of Fellows

AMA members deemed to be outstanding contributors to the medical profession and to the AMA are admitted to the AMA Roll of Fellows. 

Roll of Fellows Recipients

2024

Dr Annette Barratt
Dr Frederick Betros
Professor Anthony Lawler
Associate Professor Jeffrey Looi
Associate Professor Ines Rio
Dr John Saul
Dr Bridget Sawyer

2023

Dr Michael Bonning
Dr Jillian Tomlinson
Dr Daniel Owens
Professor Chris Perry
Dr Elizabeth Marles

2022

Associate Professor Julian Rait
Dr Sarah Whitelaw
Dr Ian Kamerman
Dr Roger Sexton
Dr Andrew Mulcahy
Professor Stephen Robson

2021

Associate Professor William Tam
Dr Dilip Dhupelia
Dr Danielle McMullen
Dr Susanne Davey
Dr Andrew John Miller
Professor John Burgess

2020

Dr Antonio Di Dio
Dr Kean-Seng Lim
Dr Anne Wilson
Dr Donald Rose
Dr Stuart Day
Dr Helen McArdle
Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley AC

2019

Professor Brad Frankum OAM
Professor Mark Khangure AM
Dr Omar Khorshid
Dr Andrew Lavendar
Associate Professor Andrew Miller AM
Associate Professor Susan Neuhaus
Professor Saxon Smith

2018

Dr Elizabeth Gallagher
Associate Professor Robert Parker
Associate Professor Beverley Rowbotham
Dr Nigel Lawrence Stewart
Dr Christopher Zappala

2017

Adjunct Professor Tim Greenaway
Professor Brian Owler

2016

Dr Tony Bartone
Dr Michael Gannon
Dr Paul Mara
Dr Shaun Rudd
Dr Peter Sharley OAM

2015

Dr Iain Dunlop
Associate Professor Robyn Langham
Dr Chris Moy

2014

Dr Alex Markwell
Dr Stephen Parnis
Dr Stephen Wilson

2013

Dr Richard Kidd
Associate Professor David Mountain
Professor Simon Willcock

2012

Dr Peter Burke
Dr Christophen Davis
Dr Henry Hicks
Dr Gary Speck
Dr Gino Pecoraro
Dr Catherine Hutton

2011

Dr Michael Aizen
Dr Richard Choong
Dr David Game
Dr Christopher Middleton
Professor Robert Conyers
Dr Mason Stevenson

Indigenous Medical Scholarship

The AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to study medicine and achieve their dream of becoming doctors.

Indigenous Medical Scholarship Recipients

2024 - Kealey Griffiths
2023 - T'Kido Titasey and Kahile Lockyer
2022 - Malissa Hodgson and Cameron Howard
2021 – Destiny Kynuna
2020 - Lloyd Diggins
2019 - Nikki Kastellorizios
2018 - Pirpantji Rive-Nelson
2017 - James Chapman
2016 - Darren Hartnett
2015 - India Latimore
2014 - Wayne Ah-Sam
2013 - Ngaree Blow
2012 - Glenda Brown
2011 - Murray Haar
2010 - Karen Taylor
2009 - Terence Morich
2008 - Gemma Johnston
2007 - Sarah Dunn and Michelle Fraser
2006 - Felicity Chapman and Beth Kervin
2005 - Clare Patterson and Amy Rosser
2003 - David Hall and Sean White
2001 - David Nichols
1999 - Angela Jillamen
1998 - Clinton Smyth and Neil Wilmet
1997 - Gavin Williams and Kelvin Kong
1996 - Jacqueline Whap and Clare Patterson
1995 - Alex Brown and Marlene Kong

Women in Medical Leadership Award

Awarded to a woman AMA member who has made a major contribution to the medical profession by showing ongoing commitment to advancing women leadership, quality care and contributing to medical politics.

Click here to submit an application

Women in Leadership Award Recipients

2024 - Dr Sarah Whitelaw and Professor Helena Teede
2023 - Dr Helen McArdle
2022 - Dr Kym Jenkins
2018 - Professor Judith Goh AO
2017 - Dr Genevieve Goulding
2016 - Associate Professor Diana Egerton-Warburton
2015 - Dr Joanna Flynn AM
2014 - Professor Kate Leslie
2011 - Dr Barbara Bauert
2005 - Dr Ngaire Brown
2004 - Dr Gabrielle Casper
2003 - Dr Elizabeth Jane
2002 - Dr Deborah Colville
2001 - Dr Parricia Mackay
2000 - Professor Jane Lawrence
1999 - Professor Tess Cramond
1998 - Professor Priscilla Kincaid-Smith

Diversity in Medicine Award

This award recognises the contributions of an individual or group to embrace, promote and implement equity, inclusion and diversity initiatives within the medical profession and/or workplace.

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Diversity in Medicine Award Recipients

2024 - Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo and Dr Dinesh Palipana
2023 - Dr Fariba Behnia-Willison
2022 - Dr Jennifer Green

Excellence in Health Care Award

The AMA Excellence in Healthcare Award is for an individual who has made a significant contribution to improving health or health care in Australia. The person may be involved in health awareness, health policy, or health delivery. 

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Excellence in Health Care Award Recipients

2024 - Professor Adrien Van Zundert
2023 - Dr Dominic Francis John Mallon
2022 - Dr Kean-Seng Lim
2019 - Dr Alan Leeb
2018 - Professor Elizabeth Elliott AM
2017 - Dr Denis Lennox
2016 - Associate Professor John Boffa & Ms Donna Ah Chee
2015 - Associate Professor Smita Shah
2014 - Dr Mehdi Sanati Pour
2011 - Dr Mark Wenitong
2010 - Professor Guy Maddern
2009 - Dr Peter Sharpe
2008 - Dr Nigel Stewart
2007 - Professor Michael Kidd
2006 - Professor Creswell Eastman

Women's Health Award

Awarded to a person who has made a major contribution to women's health in Australia. This may be through the promotion of public health initiatives, health awareness campaigns or contributing to the community needs as a health care provider.

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Women's Health Award Recipients

2024 - Dr Keeth Mayakaduwage
2023 - Dr Desiree Swei Lien Yap
2022 - Dr Ashna Basu
2005 - Dr Elizabeth Hindmarsh
2004 - Dr Gabrielle Casper
2003 - Dr Marilyn McMurchie
2002 - Dr Francis Boyle
2001 - Dr Tania Black
2000 - Dr Margaret Davy
1999 - Dr Anne Buist
1998 - Ms Judith Dwyer

AMA DiT of the Year Award

The AMA is committed to fostering the next generation of Australia’s medical leaders. This award celebrates the accomplishments of a doctor in training in leadership and advocacy and advocacy and encourages further development of leadership skills.

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AMA DiT of the Year Award Recipients

2024 - Dr Amireh Fakhouri
2023 - Dr Natasha Abeysekera
2022 - Dr Sanjay Hettige
2021 - Not awarded due to COVID
2020 - Not awarded due to COVID
2019 - Dr Rebecca Ryder
2018 - Dr Mikaela Seymour
2017 - Dr Linny Phuong
2016 - Dr Ruth Mitchell (first year presented)